Commutator distributor for internal-combustion engines



Aug. 28, 1928.

1,682,525 R. H. JOSEPHSON COIHUTATOR DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed D60. 15, 1.925

L5 l I I7 I I i 28 I 'i 121 1- L Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROMEO HANSON JOSEPHSON, OF PARRAMATTA, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES,

. 1,682,525 PATEN OFFICE.

AUSTRALIA.

COMMUTATOR DISTRIBUTOR FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed December 15, 1925. Serial No. 75,543.

This invention relates to distributors for internal combustion engines. The invention comprises a distributing arm or brush carried on a shaft driven by the engine and adapted to engage contacts in the statlonary distributor head, and a cam foroperating the make and break devices, which cam is'adjustable with respect to the distributing arm by mechanism hereinafter descrlbed. One purpose of this adjustment 15 to provide means for starting the engine, after it has been stopped, and is yet warm, with gas under compression in one or more of the cylinders, without the necessity of turning the engine over. By adjusting the cam manual- 1y, under such conditions, the dlstributor brush being on one of the contacts, leading to the spark plugs, a spark will be produced which will cause an explosion in one of the cylinders and the engine will start.

In the drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a commutator distributor embodyingthe present improvements and Fig.2 is a sectlonal elevation of same; Fig. 3 1s a sectional plan on lines 3-3 in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4L 1s a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation of a lower part or adjuster.

The stationary head 6 of the commutator case 7 is aflixed thereto or preferably 1s mtegral therewith and has distributor contacts and internal parts and leads therefrom to the electrical source and to the sparking plugs as ordinarily and said case 7 atuts lower end is fast to the casing of the driving or timing gear (not shown) for the com-' mutator spindle 8 or to the engine crank case itself or to a bracket thereon so as to hold it with its head 6 stationary.

The timer shaft 8 is driven by gearing from the engine in the usual manner and secured to the upper end of said shaft is a distributing brush or arm 10, adapted to make contact with the usual fixed contacts in the casing 6. A sleeve 12, rotatably mounted on the shaft 8, rests on a collar 18 on said shaft, and this sleeve has a collar 11, which abuts against one member of a ball bearing 14, the other member 15 of said bearing being secured by screws 16 within the housing 7. A hole 17 is provided in the part 16 for admitting oil to the bearing and sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve extends into the distributor head 6 and its upper end 9 is shaped to form a cam for operating the usual make and break devices for causing the spark when the distributor arm is in engagement with the stationarycontacts connected to the spark plugs. The part of the sleeve 12 below the flange 11 has exterior helical threads of steep pitch.

The means for adjusting the sleeve 12 angularly with respect to the shaft 8, and the distributor brush thereon, comprises a sleeve 19, having a socket or recess 22, adapted to slide telescopically over the lower endv of the sleeve 12, and the inner wall of the socket has female helical threads 23, engaging the threads 13. This adjusting device is adapted to slide longitudinally 0n the spindle 8 and is revolvably but slidably secured thereto by a feather or key 20 in long keyway 21 and through its body has one or more air vents 29. This adjuster 19 is re volvably anchored to the case 7 by a bearing formed by a circumferential groove 24 on a ring 25 of split or insertionable or other locking parts having trunnions 26 through slots 27 in case 7. These trunnions 26 have a bifurcated bell crank 28 pivoted (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) conveniently on a near or surrounding structure whose outer member terminates conveniently for necessary or desired operations by the engine controller or driver.

In use the commutator spindle 8. in revolution carries with it the distributor arm 10 and the adjuster 19 and the latter transmits the motion tothe cam 9 through their respective differentially engaging devices the helices 23 being engaged with quick-start threads 13. Now to change the angular relation between the'cam 9 and the distributor arm 10, the bifurcated lever 28 is operated to cause the trunnions 26 to slide longitudinally in the slots 27 and thus raise or lower the ring 25 with the adjuster 19. This movement of the adjuster partly revolves the sleeve 12 and cam 9, changing the angular relation of the latter to the brush 10. Thus, although the engine may be stopped, by moving the cam 9 the make and break devices may be operated to cause the spark at the spark plug which is at the time electrically connected to the distributor arm 10. The air vents 29 allow free escape of air frorn'the recess 22 and thus prevent cushioning or compressing action in the recess when the sleeve 9 is operated.

It is to be understood that this invention is not confined to the mechanical construction described and illustrated so long as the nature and mechanical-functions of its main parts are retained for many variations of the construction and arrangement of parts or integers will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a distributor for ignition systems of internal combustion engines, a vertically arranged tubular casing, a continuous driveshaft extending axially through the casing and having thereon a contact arm, two sleeves mounted directly on said shaft, one above the other, said sleeves having helically engaged parts, said lower sleeve being keyed to said shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon and said upper sleeve being rotatable on the shaft and carrying a make and break operating cam, means for preventing movement of said upper sleeve longitudinally of the shaft, and means for moving the lower sleeve longitudinally of the shaft;

2. In a distributor for ignition systems of internal combustion engines, a vertically arranged tubular casing, a continuous driveshaft extending axially through the casing and having thereon a contact arm, two sleeves mounted directly on said shaft, one above the other, said sleeves having helically engaged parts fitting telescopically one within the other, said lower sleeve being keyed to said shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon and said upper sleeve being rotatable on the shaft and carrying a make and break operating cam, means for preventing movement of said upper sleeve longitudinally of the shaft, and means for moving the lower sleeve'longitudinally of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROMEO HANSON J OSEPHSQN. 

